The king "has decided to withdraw the pardon previously accorded to Daniel Galvan Fina," said a statement published by MAP.

In September 2011, the paedophile was sentenced to a 30-year jail term after being convicted by criminal courts in Kenitra, near Rabat, of raping 11 children between four and 15 years old.

He was among the 48 jailed Spaniards who were pardoned by the Moroccan king on Tuesday at the request of Spain's King Juan Carlos, who visited Morocco last month.

However, the release of the paedophile outraged the Moroccan society, as protests erupted in many cities across the country.

In a statement on Saturday, King Mohamed VI said he ordered " that a deep investigation be conducted in order to determine responsibilities and loopholes that might have entailed this regrettable release, identify the one or those responsible for this neglect and take the needed sanctions."